The Only Way is Essex (and Hertfordshire) - Saturday Feb 23rd

So. We did it!!

Farking cold it was and despite the Garmin's periodic tantrums we managed most of the ride only lopping off 7 miles at the end so we didn't completely lose fingers/toes on the return journey.

We had sunshine for at least two brief periods of time which raised a cheer, navigated a 'stream' kind of, saw llamas, roadkill and a wind turbine and managed to find a pub that closed at 3pm and reopened at 6pm but we had enough time for drinks/snacks and to defrost before wending our way back to the station.

Whilst I didn't get my burger and guinness on this occasion I am happy to report I had the guinness later in the evening.

Would like to do the same route when the temp warms up and the Garmin stops having tantrums.

Well done everyone!

Yeah! What she said! thanks heaps for coming out people. Was good to meet Bothwell finally and see Ed for 1st time in ages. Chapeau to Kati who hates cold even more than me for coming out AND bringing banana bread but special mention to Helen Not on Here who never usually rides more than 4 miles at a time, on a fairly hefty hybrid who kept on keeping on into freezing head winds.

Apologies again for flakey Garmin - we'll do the route again in the Spring I reckon.

Suggestions for next ride welcome but I'm thinking maybe Cambridge?

Glad you guys had a good time. Will try my best to join you on the next ride, and cambridge sounds awesome! Let's hope the weather get's warmer too!

Cambridge would be tops. Really enjoyed the run in spite of the cold, still can't believe Ed turned up in beachwear. We should definitely do it again in warmer weather, but can we do a detour to the Norman village at Mountfitchet? It's a few miles before where we stopped for "lunch" (guinness and bar peanuts) this time. I defy you to look upon this tearoom and tell me you don't want to go there immediately: http://www.mountfitchetcastle.com/your-visit/tearoom-gift-shop

I plugged the route that my Garmin recorded into Strava and it seems to have gone mental around Birchanger and drawn a thin man with a massive erection, so it's not just yours that was a bit flaky. :|

I defy you to look upon this tearoom and tell me you don't want to go there immediately: http://www.mountfitchetcastle.com/your-visit/tearoom-gift-shop

oh my. although, what with -

ADMISSION PRICE 2013:

Ticket price includes entrance into Mountfitchet Castle, The House on the Hill Toy Museum and the Dinosaur Encounters.

Adults £9.95
Children(3-13yrs) £7.50
OAPS £9.50

we might need to check we can use this -

Just outside the dining room we have an outdoor covered picnic area which can accommodate approximately 120 people. There are even better views from here of the castle – you can enjoy your picnic whilst soaking up the atmosphere and peacefulness of the animals grazing and wandering around the castle grounds and also listening to the ancient church bells tolling serenely out from behind the castle walls.

without paying a tenner each...

I thought that - there's a map here with how the place is laid out and the tearoom is part of the visitor centre that you'd need to go through to access all the other bits:

https://plus.google.com/109862110250030581923/photos/photo/5838757447047501938?hl=en

so I guess it'd work like most other places where you've got gates outside the visitor centre with a guy going "YOU SHALL NOT PASS" if you want to do anything other than buy viking helmets and cakes from the gift shop without a ticket.

That said, they've got dinosaurs in there!

My god but you ladies were brave.

I did about 3 hrs worth yesterday and returned home with frozen plates of meat.

Well done everyone who did the ride on Saturday. I made do by renting a bike in Cardiff and having a nice 18 mile pootle around the bay and along the river Taff. Hopefully I will be able to make the next ride.

Poots, where is the GPS map for your southend route again? I can't find it (possibly because I've just drank an entire bottle of wine, so plz to be humouring me) and I'd maybe like to give it a go over this weekend or next, hills be damned.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2166516

ta da!

Oh...not sure that works for you to export... : /

If you can't find the route, PM me your email address and i'll send it

Southend pooties, Southend!

I clocked that Bothwell had asked for Southend rather than Essex about an hour ago #slow

Much of a muchness, really. :)

And now i have both routes! Woot, ta!

And it's all Essex innit. Apart from the Hertfordshire bit.